Hydrophilic biopolymer-drug conjugates, their preparation and use

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods of conjugating biologically active substances, particularly, alpha-interferon, with a hyaluronan or a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone. Also disclosed are stable intermediates formed by partially reacting a hyaluronan with divinyl sulfone and stopping the reaction before completion to leave free, or reactive vinyl groups on the hyaluronan molecule available for conjugation with the biologically active substance.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

[0001] This non-provisional application is based on and claims the benefit of the filing date (priority) of co-pending provisional application ser. No. 60/393,220; filed Jul. 2, 2003, under 35 USC Sec. 119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to conjugates of hydrophilic biopolymers such as hyaluronans (including hylans) with drugs or other pharmacologically active substances including anti-neoplastic drugs such as alpha-interferon formed by covalently bonding them with divinyl sulfone (“DVS”); sometimes referred to herein as vinylsulfone, methods of preparing them and using them.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Conjugation of polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) and certain biological polymers and enzymes including insulin and catalase are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,063 and 6,042,822 disclose respectively, (a) methods of conjugation of PEG using so-called “unique linkers” to improve the attachment and activity of the conjugates; and (b) active conjugates of α-interferon to PEG. U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,958 discloses the attachment of biologically active agents to fibronectin using N-hydroxysuccinimide; and International Patent No. WO 0,078,365 teaches oxidizing hyaluronans to form aldehyde groups reactive with diamines or amino polyalkylene glycols which are then reacted with oxidized sulfated polysaccharides. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,865 and 4,605,681, the preparation of cross-linked hyaluronan though vinyl sulfone linkages, as well as the attachment of these materials to the matrix of an insoluble gel—via ether linkages are described. Prestwich, Glenn D., in “Biomaterials from Chemic ally-Modified Hyaluronan, Glycoforum (Mar. 29, 2001) suggests that drugs may be conjugated with hyaluronan. Finally, Cirino, et al., Carbohydrate Research (1971), 17(1), 67-68) teaches that, in addition to simple cross-links (a) and simple substitutions (b), divinyl sulfone can also react with carbohydrates (e.g., cellulose, D-glucose) leading to complex modification of the carbohydrate:

[0006] (a) RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—OR; and (b) RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH═, wherein R is a carbohydrate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides methods for producing conjugates formed of a hydrophilic biopolymer such as a hyaluronan (including hylan) and a biologically active substance selected from among a large group of materials which have at least one functional group suitable for reaction with divinyl sulfone. The biologically active substance may be any substance which has biological or pharmacological activity and which is normally considered to be a drug and can thus be used as a drug component in the products according to the invention. Additionally, any such substance capable of reacting with a cross-linking agent may be the biologically active substance. The biologically active substance may, for example, be an antineoploastic agent such as vinblastin or paclitaxel, an antibiotic such as gentamicin, a protein such as α-interferon (which is also an antineoplastic agent) or Cytochrome C, an enzyme such as thrombin or a peptide such as avidin. The group of biologically active substances listed above is merely illustrative of a larger group of such substances, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In fact, the biologically active substance may be any such substance having at least one chemical group reactive toward DVS. These chemical groups are typically hydroxyl, amino or sulfhydryl groups. The conjugate not only retains the biological activity of the substance, but in many instances, especially with α-interferon, exhibits enhanced, improved and/or longer lasting activity than does the un-conjugated substance, or a simple mixture of the hyaluronan and the substance.

[0008] The invention also provides the conjugates prepared by the methods of the invention.

[0009] The conjugate is the reaction product of the above-described intermediate which has the general formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer, and in a preferred embodiment, the biopolymer (P) is a hyaluronan or a hylan and a biologically active material capable of being covalently and nucleophilically bonded to said intermediate. The intermediate may also contain, in addition to the free, or reactive vinyl groups, some extent of DVS cross-linking.

[0010] In still a further embodiment, the invention provides, in addition to the simple cross-links and substitutions described by Cirino, et al., the preparation of DVS+carbohydrate (e.g., cellulose, D-glucose, etc.) complexes of the formula: RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—(—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2-0—)_(n)—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH═, wherein R is a carbohydrate and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , which complex is then reacted with R′OH, wherein R′ is a drug molecule, water, a protein or an additional carbohydrate to form: RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—(—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2-0—)_(n)—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—OR′, wherein n is 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . The foregoing reaction path shows how the complex and the drug carbohydrate complex are formed. The advantage of this kind of modification is that the drug is conjugated to the carbohydrate carrier with a longer linking arm, as a result of which, the intermediate may be more reactive to conjugating a drug.

[0011] The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the conjugate in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier or vehicle therefor.

[0012] The invention additionally provides methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions comprising the conjugates in treating neoplastic conditions comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition to an animal afflicted with a neoplastic condition.

[0013] The invention still further provides methods for preparing a stable intermediate which is suitable for conjugation with drugs. The stable intermediate is prepared by reacting a hyaluronan with divinyl sulfone under controlled pH, time and temperature conditions so selected as to permit the reaction between the hyaluronan and DVS to proceed and thereafter be stopped before completion so as to leave free, or unreacted vinyl groups thereon, which are available to react with the biologically active substance to produce the conjugate.

[0014] Finally, the invention also provides the intermediate per se.

[0015] The intermediate has the general formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer having a functional groups capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone.

[0016] As used herein, the term hydrophilic biopolymer is intended to cover hyaluronans, hylans, or a mixture of a hylan and a hyaluronan or derivatives thereof having a molecular weight of 1×10³ to 1×10⁷ Da with at least one other hydrophilic polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone; said other hydrophilic polymer being a natural or synthetic polyanionic polysaccharide selected from among hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, chondroitin sulfate and heparin, a protein selected from collagen, elastin, albumin, a globulin, keratin sulfate, a sulfated aminoglycosaminoglycan or a synthetic water soluble polymer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Recently, the conjugation of various biologically active materials to certain polymers has become of significant medical interest. Such conjugated materials have been found to exhibit an increase in circulatory residence time, enhanced or increased drug stability and also the ability to target specific locations for the drugs to work most effectively.

[0018] In achieving the present invention we have prepared, inter alia, conjugates of the anti-viral, anti-cancer drug α-interferon covalently attached to hyaluronan using divinyl sulfone (DVS) as a linker. Subsequent investigation of the resulting conjugates shows that the α-interferon maintains its biological activity after being coupled, or conjugated to a hyaluronan or hylan (“hereinafter sometimes referred to as “HA”). We have also demonstrated the ability of hyaluronan to bind CD44 receptors, thereby providing a targeting mechanism.

[0019] In achieving the present invention, the following experimental methods were used:

[0020] The preparation of cross-linked hyaluronan through vinyl sulfone linkages is known; see patents cited above. The reaction requires an elevated pH, typically, 9 or higher to convert the hydroxyl groups of the hydrophilic biopolymer to alkoxide ions and allow rapid reaction with the vinyl groups. The rate of the reaction is known to be dependent on pH and temperature. A rate-controlled process for effecting this was developed and is described below.

[0021] The Preparation of the Stable Intermediate

[0022] Rooster comb hyaluronan (MW 100,000 Da) was reacted with DVS while controlling the reaction rate via pH adjustment, starting at a pH of about 9.6. The reaction was stopped after 30 minutes by adjusting the pH to 6.5 with HCl. This leaves any unreacted vinyl groups covalently attached to the HA backbone, creating an “activated HA,” which is the intermediate of the present invention. The unreacted DVS and hydrolysis products were removed by exhaustive dialysis. The presence of free, or reactive vinyl groups on the HA was determined by thiosulfate consumption, (J. Org. Chem., 11 (46) 719) which liberates an equivalent amount of OH into solution. By measuring pH changes in the thiosulfate with activated HA, the presence and amount of vinyl groups on the HA can be measured. The product of the reaction at this stage is a stable, reactive intermediate which can be isolated as such and then used to conjugate to a biologically active substance.

[0023] The Preparation of an Alpha-Interferon+HA Conjugate

[0024] Alpha-interferon in 0.1 M carbonate buffer, pH 9.8, was added to the activated HA sample and reacted overnight in the cold. Exhaustive dialysis in 50,000 M.W. cutoff was used to eliminate excess interferon not coupled to the HA.

[0025] Samples were analyzed to determine the biological activity using an in vitro assay on a bovine kidney epithelial cell line sensitive to alpha-interferon.

[0026] Cell Adhesion

[0027] Falcon cell tissue culture plates with removable wells were coated with 1 mg per ml of hyaluronan in saline and allowed to dry overnight. Mouse melanoma cells (B16-F10) were cultured in EMEM, a commercially available tissue culture medium, with 5% fetal bovine serum. Confluent cells were dislodged with 5% EDTA, suspended in serum free medium, and labeled with Chromium-51. The ⁵¹Cr-labeled cells were plated at 40,000 cells per well for 30 minutes at 37° C. One group of cells was also incubated in the presence of anti-mouse CD44 monoclonal antibody prior to being plated. The wells were washed with PBS (phosphate buffered saline) to remove unattached cells. The entire well was then placed in a gamma counter where the radioactivity was measured to determine cell number.

[0028] Results

[0029] To determine the biological integrity of the coupled interferon, the samples were tested. The activity of the hylaluronan+alpha-interferon conjugate, sometimes hereinafter (“HA-INF conjugate”) was conserved, maintaining the drug's activity after chemical modification. There was only a modest change in activity after treatment. See Table 1. To verify that HA did not interfere with the biological assay, HA was tested in the presence of interferon, and HA alone. There was no significant change in interferon activity noted in the presence of HA. HA alone had no detectable activity. It can therefore be concluded that the presence of HA does not interfere with the biological assay. TABLE 1 Measured Interferon Activities Sample Antiviral Activity HA Interferon conjugate 1.68 × 10 u/ml Interferon 2.38 × 10 u/ml Interferon + HA 2.76 × 10 u/ml HA Below Detectable Limit

[0030] In order for the conjugate to target cells, a specific binding must be established. To investigate this aspect of the invention, we studied the binding of B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells with HA. Mouse melanoma cells over-express CD44 providing a good model for HA targeting of CD44 receptors. In the melanoma cell assay, significant binding of cells to the HA coated plates was detected, with an appreciable decrease in binding of cells that were incubated with anti-CD44 antibody prior to being plated. See Table 2. The results imply that CD44 receptors are involved in the interactions between HA and the cell. These data suggest that CD44 receptors facilitate the targeting of HA conjugated anti-cancer agents to specific cells. TABLE 2 Cell binding to HA coated Plates Sample % Binding Coated 1.0 mg/ml HA 35.0% Coated + Anti CD44 Antibody 11.8%

[0031] The present invention is described in more detail in the following examples, which are given merely by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention as set forth in the claims. Unless otherwise indicated, all concentrations given are by weight. The hyaluronan used in the following examples was rooster comb hyaluronan (MW 100,000 Da) which is described in the prior art

EXAMPLE 1

[0032] 0.05 gram of hyaluronan was dissolved in 10 ml of sterile water. The final concentration was 5 mg per ml. After 2 days of mixing, the sample was autoclaved for 30 minutes at 121° C. to reduce the molecular weight of the sample. The sample was subsequently diluted with 10.0 ml of 0.5M carbonate buffer at pH 9.6, after which 5.0 μg of vinyl sulfone were added to the solution followed by vigorous mixing. The sample was placed on a shaker at 4° C. for 30 minutes. The pH was adjusted to 6.5 by the addition of HCl. The sample was then placed in dialysis against 2 liters of 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 6.5 followed by dialysis against 800 volumes of water.

EXAMPLE 2

[0033] 0.05 gram of hyaluronan was dissolved in 10 ml of sterile water. The final concentration was 5 mg per ml. After 2 days of mixing, the sample was autoclaved for 30 minutes at 121° C. to reduce the molecular weight of the sample. The sample was subsequently diluted with 10.0 ml of 0.5M carbonate buffer at pH 9.6, after which 5.0 μg of vinyl sulfone were added to the solution followed by vigorous mixing. The sample was placed on a shaker at room temperature, i.e., about 20° C. for 30 minutes. The pH was adjusted to 6.5 by the addition of HCl. The sample was then placed in dialysis against 2 liters of 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 6.5 followed by dialysis against 800 volumes of water.

EXAMPLE 3

[0034] Alpha-interferon (500,000 units) in 1 ml of 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.9, were mixed with 2 ml of the sample from Example 1. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 10,000 volumes of saline solution. Samples were tested for biological activity in an assay using interferon sensitive bovine kidney epithelial cells. The biological activity of the composition was 230,064 units per ml.

EXAMPLE 4

[0035] Alpha-interferon (500,000 units) in 1 ml of 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.9, were mixed with 2 ml of the sample from Example 2. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 10,000 volumes of saline solution. Samples were tested for biological activity in an assay using interferon sensitive bovine kidney epithelial cells. The biological activity of the composition was 167,000 units per ml.

EXAMPLE 5

[0036] 0.5 gram of hyaluronan was dissolved in 100 ml of sterile water. The final concentration was 5 mg per ml. After 2 days of mixing, the sample was autoclaved for 20 minutes at 121° C. to reduce the molecular weight of the sample. 15 ml of the solution were subsequently diluted with 15.0 ml of 0.5M carbonate buffer at pH 9.6.5 after which 5.0 μg of divinyl sulfone were added to the solution followed by vigorous mixing. The sample was placed on a shaker at room temperature for 30 minutes. The sample was then neutralized by adding 4.9 ml of 0.5M sodium phosphate monobasic to the solution. The sample was adjusted with HCl to pH 6 and placed into sterile dialysis tubing and dialyzed against 500 volumes of water.

EXAMPLE 6

[0037] Alpha-interferon (four million units) were reconstituted in 1 ml of 0.5 M carbonate buffer, pH 9.9. One ml of the interferon solution was added to 3 ml of the composition prepared in Example 5, then placed in the cold for 24 hours. The sample was then dialyzed against 500 volumes of saline in the cold for 18 hours. Samples were tested for biological activity in an assay using human pancreatic carcinoma cells. The biological activity of the composition was 1,620,247 units per ml.

EXAMPLE 7

[0038] 0.25 gram of hyaluronan was dissolved in 50 ml of sterile water. The final concentration was 5 mg per ml. After 2 days of mixing, the sample was autoclaved for 45 minutes at 121° C. to reduce the molecular weight of the sample. The sample was subsequently diluted with 50 ml of 0.5M carbonate buffer at pH 9.6, after which 10.0 μl of vinyl sulfone were added to the solution followed by vigorous mixing. The samples were placed on a shaker at 4° C. for 30 minutes. The pH was adjusted to 6.5 by the addition of HCl. The sample was then placed in dialysis against 2 liters of 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 6.5 followed by 8 changes of 2 liters of water.

EXAMPLE 8

[0039] 200 μl of epidermal growth factor were brought to a final volume of 1.0 ml in 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, and mixed with 1 ml of the activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. An increase in the molecular weight profile of the HA was observed using HPLC. An absorbance at 280 nm indicated the presence of protein that was not separated by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 9

[0040] 0.2 mg of Rhodamine labeled Avidin in 1.0 ml of 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, was mixed with 1 ml of the activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. After exhaustive dialysis, a strong fluorescent signal was observed indicating the presence of Avidin that could not be separated by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 10

[0041] 20 μg of Paclitaxel in 0.20 ml were brought to a final volume of 1.0 ml in 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6 and mixed with 1 ml of activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. 100 μl of the resulting conjugate in 1 ml of media were incubated with human hepatoma cells for 24 hours causing a 53% reduction in cell growth.

EXAMPLE 11

[0042] 0.2 ml of Anti-BSA Antibody was brought to a final volume of 1.0 ml in 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, and mixed with 1 ml of the activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. An increase in the molecular weight profile of the HA was observed using HPLC. An absorbance at 280 nm indicated the presence of protein that was not separated by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 12

[0043] 200 μg of Cytochrome C were dissolved in 1.0 ml of 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, and mixed with 1 ml of the activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. An increase in the molecular weight profile of the HA was observed using HPLC. An absorbance at 280 nm indicated the presence of protein that was not separated by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 13

[0044] 25 μg of Vinblastin were dissolved in 1.0 ml of 0.1M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6, and mixed with 1 ml of the activated hyaluronan from Example 7. The mixture was placed on a shaker for 24 hours in the cold and dialyzed against 1,000 volumes of saline. 100 μl of the conjugate in 1 ml of media were incubated with human hepatoma cells for 4 hours causing a 34% hepatoma cell death. 

1. A stable intermediate suitable for covalent conjugation with a biologically active material, said intermediate having the formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, and P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer having a functional group capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone.
 2. An intermediate as claimed in claim 2 wherein the biopolymer is a hyaluronan moiety, or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer.
 3. An intermediate as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hyaluronan has a molecular weight of about 1×10³ to 1×10⁷ Da.
 4. An intermediate as claimed in claim 3 wherein the molecular weight is about 1×10⁵ Da.
 5. An intermediate as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hyaluronan is a hylan.
 6. An intermediate as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hydrophilic biopolymer is a natural or synthetic polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, chondroitin sulfate and heparin, a protein selected from the group consisting of collagen, elastin, albumin, a globulin, keratin sulfate, a sulfated aminoglycosaminoglycan and a synthetic water soluble polymer.
 7. A conjugate comprising the reaction product of the intermediate having the formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, and P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer and a biologically active material capable of being covalently and nucleophilically bonded to said intermediate. 8 A conjugate according to claim 7 wherein the biologically active substance is any such substance having at least one chemical group reactive toward DVS.
 9. A conjugate according to claim 8 wherein the hydrophilic biopolymer is a hyaluronan moiety or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer.
 10. A conjugate according to claim 8 wherein the biologically active material is an antineoplastic, an antibiotic, a protein, an enzyme or a peptide.
 11. A conjugate according to claim 10 wherein the antineoplastic is vinblastin or paclitaxel, the antibiotic is gentamicin, the protein is alpha-interferon or cytochrome C, the enzyme is thrombin and the peptide is avidin.
 12. A conjugate according to claim 9 wherein the biologically active material is alpha-interferon.
 13. A conjugate according to claim 12 and having the formula HA-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH—INF, wherein HA represents a hyaluronan moiety or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer, and INF represents an alpha-interferon moiety. 14 A method of preparing the intermediate having the formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, and P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer having a functional group capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone comprising subjecting the hydrophilic biopolymer having a concentration of 0.01 to 1.0% at a temperature of about 4° C. to treatment with divinyl sulfone in the presence of a carbonate buffer at a pH of about 9.6, for about 30 minutes, thereafter reducing the pH to about 6.5 with HCl to stop the reaction and leave free, unreacted vinyl groups covalently attached to the hydrophilic biopolymer through —OH groups thereon.
 15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the hydrophilic biopolymer is a hyaluronan moiety or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer. 16 A method according to claim 14 wherein the concentration is 0.2 to 1%. 17 A method according to claim 14 wherein the concentration of hydrophilic biopolymer in the aqueous solution is about 0.5%. 18 A method according to claim 17 wherein the hydrophilic biopolymer is a hyaluronan moiety or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer. 19 A method according to claim 14 comprising removing the unreacted divinyl sulfone and hydrolysis products of the reaction by dialysis. 20 A method of preparing the conjugate of claim 7 comprising reacting the intermediate with the biologically active material in aqueous solution at a pH of 9 or higher at a temperature of about 4° C. in the presence of a carbonate buffer and shaken for about 24 hours and thereafter dialyzing the reaction mixture with saline solution to remove therefrom unreacted biologically active material. 21 A method according to claim 20 wherein the biologically active substance is any such substance having at least one chemical group reactive toward DVS.
 22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the intermediate has the formula P-O—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—(CH═CH₂)_(n), wherein n is an integer and is at least 1, and P represents a hydrophilic biopolymer and the hydrophilic biopolymer is a hyaluronan moiety or a moiety of a mixture of a hyaluronan with at least one other hydrophilic polymer.
 23. A method according to claim 20 wherein the biologically active material is an antineoplastic, an antibiotic, a protein, an enzyme or a peptide.
 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the antineoplastic is vinblastin or paclitaxel, the antibiotic is gentamicin, the protein is alpha-interferon or Cytochrome C, the enzyme is thrombin and the peptide is avidin.
 25. A method according to claim 20 wherein the biologically active material is alpha-interferon.
 26. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the conjugate according to claim 7 in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier or vehicle therefor.
 27. A method of treating an animal afflicted with a neoplastic condition comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 26 to said animal.
 28. A stable intermediate suitable for covalent conjugation with a biologically active material, said intermediate having the formula: RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—(—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—)n—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH═, wherein R is a carbohydrate, n is 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . and having a functional group capable of reacting with divinyl sulfone.
 29. A conjugate comprising the reaction product of the intermediate as claimed in claim 28 and a biologically active material capable of being covalently and nucleophilically bonded to said intermediate.
 30. A conjugate as claimed in claim 29 wherein the biologically active material is R′OH, wherein R′ is a drug molecule, water, a protein or an additional carbohydrate, and the conjugate has the formula: RO—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—(—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—O—)n—CH2—CH2—SO2—CH2—CH2—OR.
 31. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the conjugate according to claim 30 in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier or vehicle therefor. 